LAND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
KING COUNTRY DISTRICT. PROGRESS OF SMALL FARM.S. The special committee set up by the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company to go into the matter of the erection of a butter factory nt Te Kuiti, recently visited the district. The party was headed, by Mr. Dynes Fulton, chairman of directors of the company. The party was met by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., and Mr. W. S. Cato, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who conducted the tour of the district.' The visitors first inspected the Mangarapa Valley and then went through Hangatiki to the Mangarewa and Mangapu Valleys, where large fertile areas, several thousands of acres in extent, have been reclaimed by the Mangapu Drainage Board, A halt was made at the property of Mr. J. W. Lee, where from an eminence Mr. Broadfoot pointed out the potentialities of the picturesque kahikatea-fringed valley, which stretched away to the foothills in the west beyond the Waitomo Caves. It was stated that this valley would soon be carrying dozens of new settlers under the small farm scheme. SHEEP AND CATTLE COUNTRY. The party proceeded through Oparure, passing excellent sheep and cattle country. On the return- journey they visited the source of the company s top-dressing supply, the lime works situated just south of the town. After lunch the party inspected the newly-developed country under the small farm scheme at Rangitoto. It was there that the visitors met their greatest surprise. Situated on a tableland 800 ft. high, 12 newly-erected and neatly-painted four-roomed cottages met the eye. Four of these cottages are already occupied. Each holding is from 60 to 120 acres and is equipped with an up-to-date four-cow milking shed, with a concrete floor, dairy and separator room, and a concrete yard and water trough. The water is reticulated to each farmlet from a leading spring on the high country by means of second-hand piping brought from the Stratford-Ohura railway works by the Public Works Department, which is responsible for this development scheme. The area of 2000 acres, which was purchased by the Government for £6OOO, was a sheep and cattle station, which originally had two homesteads of five rooms. The additional 12 four-roomed cottages have been erected at a contract price of £3840, an average of £320 a cottage. Within a few more months, 13 extra settlers, with an average of three a family, wil’ be comfortably settled; Besides 30 married men, there are 50 single men in the Rangitoto camp, most of whom have expressed a desire to take up holdings. These men are accommodated in canvas hutments. Already 380 . acres are in grass, on which are grazing 600 ewes and lambs and 50 Polled Angus bullocks. A herd of six cows supplies the milk. An area of 40 acres is planted in swedes and there are areas of one acre each of carrots, parsnips, cabbages and pumpkins.
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Bibliographic details
Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1934, Page 9
Word Count
481LAND DEVELOPMENT SCHEME Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1934, Page 9
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